It’s so hot in Brazil that Mexico and the Netherlands took a cooling break

The Netherlands and Mexico had a FIFA mandated cooling break in their round of 16 game, which lasted about five minutes. This is the first World Cup where cooling breaks have been instituted.

Before the World Cup, FIFA said that each venue’s medical office would be monitoring climate conditions on the pitch. If the temperature rose above 32 degrees Celsius, or 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit, then cooling breaks would be mandated. The referee can decide when to halt play to take a break.

Mauricio Duenas/EPA

Conditions in Fortaleza are not exactly ideal for soccer. It felt like 97 degrees at field level, and only half of the pitch was covered in shade. The United States and Portugal also took a water break last week in Manaus.

Naturally, the cooling break caused many fans to wonder what the World Cup will be like in Qatar.